Adjustable back or head rest



y 1949. P. BILLET ETAL 2,474,314

ADJUSTABLE BACK on HEAD REST Filed July 9, 1945 IN V EN TORS.

' PHILIP BILLET- BY JRVING -u.=vr.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE BACK R HEADREST Philip Billet and Irving Levy, New York, N. Y.

Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,896 i 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable reclining articlesof furniture, such as, for example, couches, sofas, chairs and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient,economical and practical adjustable head or back rest on a couch, sofa,chair, or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a neat,convenient, durable and reliable means of adjustably securing the headand/or back rest portion of a couch, sofa or chair, whereby the saidportion may be selectively raised and lowered relative to the body ofthe article of furniture for the convenience of the person desiring torest thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sofa or couchwherein the head section may be manually moved. to the desired anglewith relation to the body of the sofa or couch and securely held in anyposition of adjustment.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablehead rest section for a sofa, couch or chair, which is relatively simplein construction, strong and durable in use and which maintains theaesthetic appearance of the article of furniture.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide simple andpractical, strong and durable adjusting mechanism for raising andlowering head pieces of couches, sofas, or the like to various degreesof adjusted position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide mechanism forfacilitating the adjustment of a head rest or piece relative to the bodyof a sofa, couch, lounge or chair to which it is swingably connected andfor locking the same at the desired inclination.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing disclosure thereof together with the attached drawing, which.illustrates a certain form of embodiment thereof. This form is shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been foundin practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is tobe understood that thevarious instrumentalities of which the inventionconsists can be variously arranged and organized and that the inventionis not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of theinstrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view (partly broken away) of a sofa orcouch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and detailed enlarged sectional View of theoperation mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the operating parts only and in theirrelative position.

While the invention is referred to and described with relation to acouch or sofa, it is to be distinctly understood that the improvementsmay apply to a chair or other article of furniture. It is to be furtherunderstood that while it is not desired to be limited to the use of theimprovements in connection with a couch or sofa, the same is about to beso described to discourage copying.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is disclosed acouch or sofa l0, having a body H to which is hingedly secured a headpiece or rest l2 by means of a hinge I3 and pin l4. Body H has a hollowportion S. One part I30. of the hinge I3 is secured to the head rest [2by screws or rivets l5, whereas, the other part E3!) of the hinge I3 issecured to the body l I by hinge member I30 secured to frame It byscrews or nails 15a. The body and head rest have the frames [6, I! andare respectively provided with suitable padding I8, [9, and embellishedwith covering mate- Secured to one end 24 of the body H as by means ofbolts or screws 25 are a pair of spaced ratchet-like or notched members2'6, each being provided with steps or teeth 21 and a stop 21a.Projecting through a bore 28 in end 24 and slidably arranged therein isa shaft 29 of plunger 34 having a knurled head 30. A washer 3| isprovided on the inside wall of the end 24 and a metal facing 32 isprovided on the outside wall thereof. A helical spring35 encircles shaft29 between its head 30 and the facing 32. Shaft 29 is provided with acotter pin 36 providing a stop to prevent withdrawal or limit outwardmovement of shaft 29. Y r

Attached to head piece I2 is a cross member 40 to which are securedthe'cleats or straps 4| which swingably. support a substantiallyrectangular member 42 having a cross portion 42a. Member 42 and itscross portion 42a may be formed from a single piece of rod stock, asindicated in the drawing. A flat member 43 which may be in the form of ametal strip abuts against cross portion 42a of rectangular member 42 andhas a rearwardly bent-over portion 43a embracing frame. 42 and liesagainst the rear side of portion 42a. A bent leaf spring member 45 issecured atone end 450. to frame [6 of the body I I, while its other 45!)is adapted to abut against member 43. Thus spring member 45 will urgeber 42 will thereby disengage from the steps or notches 21 of theratchet-like or ratched members 26.

It is evident from the drawing, that if it is desired toadjusttheheadapiece 12,. to-awdesired position with relation itoiibodyH, themliead piece I2 is raised and since the rectangular member 42 isurged to bear against the ratchet-like notched {a members 26 by thespring 45, member 42 automatically may be made to rest uporr any"of thesteps 21, the stop 21a preventing the frame-.likemlts member 42 fromultimate disengagement from the ratchet-like members, since the botto'mrbarw a 2 42b would then abut against stop 21a. Now, if\

it is desired to lower head piece 12, then'the' plunger 34 is depressedcausing shaft 29 to swing,,20

rearwardly member "42, thus releasing the "latter,

from engagement withfthenotched members? From the "foregoing,description taken. in icon:

nection with.the accompanyingiidrawingy.it; is apparent that an.improved'simple, practical and".

inexpensive device "for the purpose "intended is provided; It is"apparentyhowever; that imma terial changes andmodificati'onsmayibe madeby skilled' personswithout departing. front-the, true spiritand scope ofthe inventioni'a's" outlined in the appended claimsj Having thusdescribedpur inventiontwhatwe" claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is: a

1. An article'of"fui"nitui'e.of fthe'inharacterdescribed comprising a'body ha in'g a;,hollow por tion at an. end thereof?a'headrpieceforsaidb'odyg' means swingably'connecting'said .h'ead; piece"to said/body,"a substantially, rectangular frame swingably 'attachedto"s'ai'd'head"pieceysaid frame 4 having a cross *memberfa" pairf'of"ratchet=like said body, a substantially rectangular frame swingablyattached to said head piece, said frame having a cross-member, a pair ofnotched members vertically secured to said body Within said hollowportion, said frame being adapted for engagement with said notchedmembers, a plunger secured to said end and having a shaft projectablewithin said hollow portion, means on said frame adapted for engagementby said shaft when-said plungerris depressed, anda spring member securedto said body and normally bearing against said cross-member to maintainsaid frame in engagement with said ratchet-like members.

4. An article of furniture of the character described comprising abodyhaving a hollow portion at an end thereof, a head piece for said body,means;swingablyponnecting said head piece to said body, a substantiallyrectangular frame swingably'attached to said head piece, said framehaving a cross member, a pair of notched membersverti'cally securedvtolsaid' body: within :said 1 hollo w portion; said frame beingadaptedwfor en:- gagement with said notchedrmembers; aspringraw membersecuredto'said body and normally bear-- ing againstsaid cross-member'rtomaintain said-. 1 franiein engagement-withsaid notched members; a aspring-operated plunger secured to said end 1:: and ha-vi'nga shaftslid'ably;projecting-within-said;

hollow portion; :said shaft whenisaidzplunger=is: depressed beingadaptedato? engagecsaid crossmember to disengage said:.:-frame.'zfrom-saidr notched members;

5. An articleof :furnituremfthe charactersdee scribed; comprising abody. havingsa hollow:=.space therewithin, a head piece swingablyconnected to said bodyyaa 'frame rqswingably .attache,d t0: said;hearl=-piece,;at least: one notched member secured tosaid-body'withinrsaid space; saidframe'beingw adaptednforengagementrwith saidnotchedmem ber, a plunger securedmoranend' of saidbodyand; w; having a" shaftpr'oj ectable within said space-said, shaft s'when said "plunger-v -is 'dEPIGSSGd r being 1 said hollow lportion';.i'said frame"being adapted" members vertically"secured to"said"'bodyj"within adapted to engage said frame; and a-spring;mem, bersecured to said .bodyr; and z-norma-lly; bearing;- against, 'saidiramerto maintain' the latter in; en;- gagement with said notchedmember.

6. An article of-furniture of the character "defor engagementwithl'sa'id" liatchet likdmembersy a plunger securedtosaidendand"havingais-haft; projectable. within said hollow portion;said? shaft when said '-plunger'*"-i depre sed: e nadaptedzto"engage"'said 'crossememberia.Sprin scribedeomprismg'abodyihavmg aholl'uw'spacei member securedto"saidbodwahdnormally bear therewithima head pieceswingablyconnectedtoing against "saidicross member to inaintain-said' so Said: body aframe ab r attachedm frameinengagement with-gaid Iatch e't;:]fl e3 headpiece, atleastone notched-membensecured hers t D t -the u r d-df'-e ;hfsaid to said body-:- within; saidrspace, said-frame being. ratchet 1ikemembersnw '7 adaptedrfor engagement with said-notched mem- 2. An articleof, furniturebfmhe""characterdew plungel-fl'secured 30 a l-end 0fSaid'body and" scribed. comprising-a lbodyahaivmgwa hollowl;:havingi-ashaft projectable within said space, said tionat an endthereof;a head pieceforsai'dbddy, means swingablyconnecting-maidhead-"piece to said" body, asubstantiallyrectangular"frame swingably attached to saidhead pieceysaidframe having across member, a pair of ratchet-"like o members vertically'sfecure'di-to said' 'body within,

said hollow portion", 'saidfram beingiadapted for engagement with""said" ratchetl'ike members; J a

' shaft when rsaidwplungen is depressed being. 1 j adapted to engagesaid frame, zand-zmeans-nor mally bearing against said qframeitomaintain the latter :in engagement with saidv notched member,

,BILLET. IRVING:

REFERENCES CITED l The following referenlcesare of record in the file ofthis patentzp UNITED ,STATELS, PATENTS plunger secured to said*end-and'hayingria shaft projectable withimsaid'hdllhw portion-:"saidshaft "6'5 when'isaicLplunger is .debflessedrbeing adapted'to' engageisaid c'ross' member; and'a spring member secure'dnto 'said'bo'dy""and'normally*"bearing" g gg ifl g li 'ig against."saidliicioss=memberf'to'imaintain*said 6 4 Wright] 'fmf framein:"engagementwithsaidmatchetlike'inem FOREIGN PA'BENTS 3. An articlepf "furnitureof'i'the character-de Number Country 7 Date scribed comprisingaibddy"having *'ajhollow por 18,864 Great Britain Aug.= 23,1906tion"at'aniendthereofpa-"head piecefor'said body,:" 1 177,057 GreatBritain Man- 23; 1922 meansswingably" connecting said head"piece to '75276,411 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1927

